Biology

Moltres is a large, avian Pokémon with orange or golden plumage. It has a long, flowing head crest and a billowing tail, both made of flames. Additionally, its wings are also shrouded in fiery plumage. Its straight, pointed beak is brown, as are its anisodactyl feet. It has short talons.

Moltres sheds embers with every flap of its wings, creating a brilliant flash of flames. By dipping itself into the magma of an active volcano, this Pokémon can heal itself. It migrates to the south with the coming of spring, and is said to bring an early springtime to cold lands. Moltres is rarely seen by Trainers.

A Moltres appeared in the Hoopa's Surprise Ring Adventures short Heated Battle. It hit and burnt Hoopa with a Fire-type attack before flying off.

A Moltres appeared in A Legendary Photo Op!. It was first seen resting in the crater of Mt. Molteau. Ash and his friends joined Trevor, who was looking to photograph the Legendary bird. However, after being attacked by Team Rocket, Moltres assumed Ash and the others were allied with the trio, and attacked them. After watching the recklessly selfless actions of the newly evolved Talonflame and its Trainer, however, Moltres realized that Ash's group was not with Team Rocket and left them in peace.

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Moltres first appeared in Holy Moltres where it pursued and battled against Blaine and Red, it was also revealed that Team Rocket had captured it Indigo Plateau where Sabrina had obtained Moltres for Team Rocket during the Kanto saga, but it is not seen in battle. It is later combined with Articuno and Zapdos to form a singular Legendary bird, but they separate once Sabrina is defeated and go back to the wild.

Green later catches Moltres on Mt. Ember during her training journey to overcome her fear of birds. She used it and its fellow Legendary birds in the fight against Karen and Will, who were commanding the Masked Man's Ho-Oh and Lugia. She has not used any of them since, meaning they have probably been deposited in the box or released.

When released from a Poké Ball, Moltres will remain where it is released, flapping its wings. It will then use Sky Attack in Melee or Fly in Brawl to leave the arena. Any opponent that touches it will receive a sizable amount of damage. Moltres is the only Legendary bird to return in Brawl.

Trophy information

Melee

As tradition has it, the onset of spring heralds the return of this legendary Pokémon from its southern home. Its bright orange color and fiery aspect lends to its overwhelming appearance. Sky Attack, the strongest of flying moves, is a perfect fit for this burning phenom, but it obviously also excels at powerful Fire-type moves.

Brawl

"A Flame Pokémon. It's one of the legendary bird Pokémon. When Moltres appears in a town, it is said that spring will come earlier there than in other towns. If Moltres is injured, it apparently returns to a volcano to heal its wings with magma. Moltres spreads its wide, flame-covered wings and attacks opponents with the exciting and highly damaging Sky Attack."

3DS/Wii U

Moltres in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS.

NA: This Fire/Flying-type Pokémon is one of three Legendary birds in the Kanto region. It will use Fly when called into a Smash Bros. battle, flapping its orange wings and sending fire out around it. Getting hit hurts and could launch you so far, you'd make Moltres jealous. That isn't a good thing...

PAL: Moltres is one of the three Legendary Bird Pokémon of the Kanto region, along with Articuno and Zapdos. When spreading its huge wings and taking flight, it can make the flames all over its body burn even brighter. If you get hit by those flames during its Fly attack, you might go flying even further than Moltres!

Trivia

Origin

Moltres may be based on legends of firebirds such as the phoenix, the Slavic firebird, or the Bennu. It may also be based on the Japanese mythical bird known as 朱雀 Suzaku, guardian of the South, which is not a true phoenix. It may also be based on a heron, because of their similarities in shape.

Name origin

Moltres is a combination of molten and tres (Spanish for three, indicating that it is the third in the trio of KantoLegendary birds). It may also derive from molt.